The Elementals - not as scary as people think?

[SannaR]

Aren't they the ones they make the Ala Mighans sick because they're seen as not wanted in the shroud? The only time I want to say we see any of the elementals in 2.0 is during the cnj story. They're part of the reason white mages have to calm down a tree if tainted aether is sensed and hasn't been delt with in a timely manner. We also learn that to them everything is just aether to their eyes as they don't make distinctions between aether that made up a nutkin in the life stream vs a person stuck in the lifestream because they used dangerous teleport magics.

[Iscah]

Aren't they the ones they make the Ala Mighans sick because they're seen as not wanted in the shroud?

They didn't actually make him sick, just banned the Gridanians from assisting him.

http://garlandtools.org/db/#quest/66301

ALBREDA
One of Meffrid's in bad shape, you say? I'm...I'm sorry, but there's naught I can do.
I want to help, truly I do─they're my countrymen, after all─but that'd mean going against the elementals' will.
I've been at Quarrymill long enough to know how right terrible the beings can be. I couldn't forgive myself if everyone gets banished because of me.
If there's anyone who can help you, it'd be Charline, the hamlet's resident Hearer. If you take the matter to her, might be as she'll listen...though I wouldn't get my hopes up.

CHARLINE
You wish to aid the Ala Mhigans? You are possessed of a kind heart, adventurer, but I'm afraid I have not the authority to grant you your wish.
This authority belongs only to the elementals, eternal guardians of the Twelveswood. All outsiders, be they babes at the breast or men grown, are judged of a night whether they may have a place beneath the boughs.
Alas, the Ala Mhigans' petition has been denied. Harsh though it may seem, they do not have leave to receive of the wood's bounty. Ever has it been since time immemorial, and ever shall it be.

[SannaR]

They didn't actually make him sick, just banned the Gridanians from assisting him.

Yet the illness seems to target Ala Mhigans the most. I want to say it's partly why there aren't many that stay in the Shroud because they don't want to become ill and then get denied treatment just because the elementals said sorry you're not allowed to.

[Enkidoh]

Yet the illness seems to target Ala Mhigans the most. I want to say it's partly why there aren't many that stay in the Shroud because they don't want to become ill and then get denied treatment just because the elementals said sorry you're not allowed to.

I can't remember if that particular quest ever explained what it was exactly Meffrid's friends were suffering from only that they were gravely ill (my assumption was it was partially exhaustion and malnutrition from their lives as refugees).

Having said that, in the game's lore there is a disease called simply 'the wasting sickness' that only affects hyur specifically and was once at epidemic levels in Gridania (an early quest in Hyrstmill referred to it). In the present day conjury spells were developed to treat or even cure the disease but for a long time herbal treatments were all that was available to treat the afflicted. So maybe the Ala Mhigan refugees (who are hyur also after all, highlander specifically, but still hyur) had caught this particular ailment, and thus because it required specific conjury spells to cure that only the Hearers of the CNJ's Guild would know, hence why the elementals had to be asked to use it and in turn denied it.

Unfortunately, the elementals are nature personified, and lets face it, nature is downright cruel at times, and that is pretty much the underlying theme in Gridania sadly.

[Wyssahtyn]

Yet the illness seems to target Ala Mhigans the most. I want to say it's partly why there aren't many that stay in the Shroud because they don't want to become ill and then get denied treatment just because the elementals said sorry you're not allowed to.

The man was wounded, his wound festered, and he developed fever. That's it. Heck, if you'd bothered to follow the link in that quoted post, you'd have seen that.

"(-Resistance Soldier-)C-Captain! It's...it's Gallien, sir! His wound's gone an' festered, an' he's burnin' up! I don't think he's got much time! "